Steam valve gear



Oct.` 12,- 1937. A. G. Ro'cKwcDo'D4 STEAM VALVE GEAR y e .sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1935 INVENTOR I I EIIIIIT Il IIIIIII.

v v i r w E IIIIIIIIN ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1937. A` G. RocKwooD 2,095,287

- STEAM VALVE GEAR Filed June 1s, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENT OR A TTORNEY HrZLur 6i Rockwood.

l Oct. 12, 193'7.` A. l 5.y RocKwooD STEAM VALVE GEAR Filed June 1s, 1935 e sheets-sheet L5 mmm.

INVENTOR Oct. 12, 1937. A. G. RocKwooD STEAM VALVE GEAR Filed June 13. 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 i A. G. RocKwooD oct. 1.2, 1937.

STEAM VALVE GEAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 13, 1935 m R w im FJV n. Wm 4 N m Q .m G S1 J N5 1- O 71-1 l, u .l u. NN I |1 1mm ||||\h "Ynvvv I||r lx MEHIIU l 1- SNN 1 A n NSN w ,Q h 4 MSN A TORNEY Oct. 12, 1937.

A. G. ROCKWOOD STEAM VALVE GEAR Filed June 13, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 zofgjga? 1335 JNVENTOR ATTORNEY '50 Fig. 5 is al diagrammatic view Parental oct. 12, 1937 STEAM VALVE GEAR Arthur G. Rockwood, North Arlington, N. J., as-

sig'nor to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of virginia Application June 13, 1935, semi No. 26,447 1o claims. (c1. 121-157) This invention relates to steam valve gears and an object of the invention is to provide a valve gear for single direct acting pumps which is particularlyadapted to present-day steam conditions 5- involving extremely high steam pressure and temperatures and for operation without lubrication;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam valve -gear embodying the use of a pilot valve or auxiliary slide valve arranged in l inverted position to ride on the chest cover, which chest cover forms the valve saddle, thereby improving the accessibility to the slide valve and its saddle, making the valve seat more conveniently replaceable and eliminating the requirement for l a separate loose Wearing plate and onegasket joint in the valve structure.

`A further object of the invention is to provide in a steam valve gear, a steam chest and piston valve provided with separate starting ports which also serve on the reverse stroke as cushion regulating ports; to provide manually operable means to control the delivery of cushioning steam to the ends of the main cylinder, and to pass the steam supply for the ends of the stroke through the piston valve so as to eliminate-difcult core work .in the construction of the steam chest and/or cylinder.

With these andother objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specication, the

' 30 invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be rst described iii-connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a steam valve gear of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the Afeatures forming the invention will be specifically pointed out inthe claims. y

In the drawings: v Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section lthrough a steam cylinder' showing the improved valve gear applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the steam cylinder and valve gear.

Fig. -3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

f Fig. 4 is -a diagrammatic view in section of 'the steam valve gear, the steam cylinder, and the steam piston. A

Fig. 4A is a detail diagram of he pilot valve and ports.

modified form of the steam-valve g ar.

' Fig. 5A is a detaif'diagram in plan of a part of the steam valve gear being shown in connection with Fig. 5 to more clearly bring out the operation of the valve gear.

section of a I Fig. 6 is 'a longitudinal section through a steam cylinder showing the modified form of valve gear applied thereto.

Fig. V7 is a plan view partly in section, of a steam cylinder and the modified form of valve gear. 5 Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail section through a part ofthe valve structure taken approximately on the line 99' of the diagrammatic Figure 4. Slight difl0 ferences in appearance of certain ports is occasioned by the diagrammatic nature of Figure 4.

Referring more particularlygto thedrawings,` the preferred form of the steanl'valve gearshownv in Figs. 1 to 4A inclusive, comprises the valve gear 15 proper in combination with agsteam cylinder I in which a steam piston 2 reciprocates. The ref -ciprocation of the piston' 2 in the cylinder I is controlled, through the distribution of operating steam to the cylinder by means of the valve gear 20 3 which includes the valve chest 4 having a cylinder or cylindrical bore 5 therein in which the steam distributing piston valve 6 reciprocates. The operation of the piston valve 6 is in turn controlled by the auxiliary slide or pilot valve 1. 25 Y The auxiliary slide valve 1 is in turn operated from thepiston. rod 8 of the steam piston 2 through'the medium of suitable operating gear indicated at 9.

' Referring more specifically to the diagrammatic 30 Fig. 4; when the steam piston 2 is at the lefthand end of its' stroke in the cylinder I, the piston valve 6 will be at the right-hand end of its stroke,

f at which time steam entering the cylindrical bore 5 through the steam supply port I0 will pass, in 3 5 l the direction of the arrows A into the starting passage I I and through the starting passage into the auxiliary starting passage I2. The auxiliary starting passage I2 opens into thecylinder I outwardly of the outer end of the piston 2 and im- 40 parts an initial starting movement to the piston which moves the piston sufficient distance to uncover the main ,outlet I3 of the starting passage .I I. vThe uncovering of the outlet I3 permitsa larger quantity of steam to enter the cylinder I 45 and imparts further impetus to the piston moving it to the right until the port Il of the main steam supply passage I5 is opened, at which time the proper amount oi! operating steam will enter the cylinder and move the'piston through its com- 50 plete stroke towards the right. The mainsteam port or .passage l5 is connected to the steam supply port Ill through the port VIIS formed in the cylinder -sleeve and through the annular cut-out portion I8 formed in the piston valve 6. The pis- '55 main steam port I5 as indicated by the arrows B somesteam will pass into the hollow bore 22 of the piston valve and outwardly through the ports 20 for delivery to the main steam supply passage 23 for delivering steam to the right-hand end of the cylinder I.

When the steam piston 2 is at the left-hand end of the cylinder I the main steam supply passage 23 acts as a main exhaust port and it is then open through the annular groove 24 formed in the piston valve 6 to the exhaust port 25.

The slide valve 'I controls the movement of the piston valve 6 and consequently indirectly controls the operation of the steam pistoni. In Fig. 4 of the drawings the slide.valve 'I is shown in position for delivering operating steam through the slide Valve saddle 26 and passage 2'I to the left-hand end of the steam chest 4. When in this position the main piston 2, will move to the right and when nearing the end of the stroke the slide valve 'I will be operated to open the port 28 and the passage 30 to steam supply. Steampassing through the passage 28 will pass first through the outermost connecting passage 36 and right-hand end of the cylinder l.

steam supply port If] and the main steam pas.

sage I5 and the starting passage II and opens, through the annular groove 24, the steam passage I5 to the exhaust passage 25. At the same time, it opens the annular passage 34 in the valve chest 4 to the main steam supply port 2,3 and to the combined cushioning and starting passage 35 at the The annular passage 34 has communication, through the annular groove 2|, ports 20, ports I9 and annular groove I8 with the steam supply passage I8 for delivering starting steam to the right-hand end of the cylinder to start and lmove the piston 2 towards the left after it has' completed its stroke towards the right. The auxiliary vslide valve I and the ports 2 and 28 in the saddle 26, as well as the exhaust port 36 therein 'are so arranged that when operating steam is being delivered to one end of the steam chest -4 the other end will be opened to exhaust.

The steam for moving the piston valve 6 passes from the main steam supply passage I0 through the annular groove 52 and through suitable port 5I. From the pocket 52 the steam passes through the passageway 53 (indicated inL dottedlines in Fig. 4) into the space or chamber 54 in the valve chest in which the auxiliary or pilot valve 'Islides and thus by controlling the ports Z'I, 28, and 36, the auxiliary or pilot valve I controls the distribution of steam for operating the piston valve 6.

For the purpose oi' cushioning the steam piston 2 at the ends of its stroke suitable means are provided for pocketing a limited and regulated amount of steam in the ends of the cylinder I immediately after the main passages I5 or 23 have been closed by the piston. During the movement of the piston 2, for example to the right,

amount of this steam exhausts through the pasisage 35. The passage 35, is however at this time,

closed off by thev piston valve 6, but a. QIOSS.-

`the cylinder I I I.

passage or opening 31 is provided which opens from the passage 35 into the passage 23 and outwardly through the main exhaust 25. It is desirable, however, to retain, momentarily, a quantity of steam in the ends of the cylinder after the piston 2 has closed the main port 23 so as to have a gradual slowing up in piston speed when approaching the reversed position. A suitable valve 38 is provided for controlling the cross-port or passage 3'I and consequently to permit control of the quantity of connecting steam momentarily held in the end of the cylinder. The valve 38 may be manually operated through any suitable means such as the valve handle 39 clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A cross-port 4U is pro vided to establish communication between the passages |I 'and I5 and this cross-port is controlled by a valve 4|, manually operated to permit control of the cushioning steam in the lefthand end of the cylinder I. The valves 38 and 4| are arranged as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings or any other suitable arrangement so as to con--` trol the passage of steam through the ports 3'I and 40 without closing or blocking the starting passages and 35 respectively.

The starting port 35 has the auxiliary starting passage 43 connected thereto which is similar to and operates exactly in the same manner as the passage I2. These passages I2 and 43 also act as exhaust passages to permit the exhausting of the cushioning steam from the ends of the lcylinder. Y

By particular reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings it will be noted that the auxiliary slide valve 'I is inverted from the usual position occupied,

by such valves, that is, its flat slide surface 44 is positioned upwardly or outwardly from the axis of the piston valve 6 and it rides over the inner flat surface 45 of the chest cover 26 and thus the cover 26 also acts as a saddle for the auxiliary slide valve l. This construction has many advantages in that with the pilot or auxiliary slide Valve operating on the valve chest cover 26 as a seat will permit easy access to the auxiliary slide or pilot valve I and will permit the cover to be .readily removed for refacing the seat 45 when necessary and also in instances where either the seat 45 or the auxiliary valve 'I becomes excessively worn, these parts can be cheaply and easily replaced.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, a modiiied form of the improved valve gear is shown. In this modified form, the auxiliary slide or pilot valve |00 is inverted, that is, with its rubbing surface or face IGI facing upwardly or outwardly from the axis of the piston valve |02. The flat slide or surface |0| engages against the fiat inner surface |83 of the/cover |04 of the valve chest. The cover |04 serves as the saddle for the auxiliary slide or pilot valve I 03 and is provided with a steam inlet passage I 86 and passages |01 and |08 which deliver `steam to the opposite ends of the bore |09 of the valve chest Il() and in which piston valve |02 reciprocates. The auxiliary slide or pilot valve IUI] is operated from the piston rod ||3 through any approved type of linkage indicated at ||4, for properly operating the slide valve at the desired intervals in the cycle of operation in the steam engine to properly control the delivery of steam to and its exhaust from In the diagrammatic Fig. 5 of thediawings the pistonzvalve |02 is shown at the right-:handlimit of its stroke at which timev the. steam entering passing through the port the larger quantity the piston valve |02. Part of the steampasses from the annular groove ||6 through the port and through the starting passage H8, as in` .dicatedby the arrows C, and through thispassageway into the left-'hand end of the cylinder I. That'is, the starting steam passes from the right-hand end of thesteam chest I0 across and into the left-hand end of the steam cylinder |||v for starting the steam piston ||2 on its movement towards right. At thesame time that steam is of the steam will pass through the series of ports ||9 formed in the'piston valve |02. and passing through the bore |20 of the piston valve Vwill pass from the bore through the ports |2| into the main steam supply passage |22 for delivering the main operating steam to the left-hand end of the cylinder after thepiston ||2 has been moved under the impetus of the starting steam to open the passage |22 to the cylinder. At the same time that the operating steam is being delivered to the left-hand end of the cylinder the main steam supply passage |23 for the right-hand end of the cylinder will be open through the annular'groove |24 to the exhaust port |25 and the starting passage or port |26 for delivering the starting steam to the right-hand end of the cylinder will be-open through the `:ivy-pass or connecting Aport |21 with the main port or passage |23 so as to permit the retarded exhaust of the steamA from the end of the cylinder beyond the port |23 to provideA the desire/d cushioning action for the piston ||2. A val/ve |28 is provided, which may be manually operated as indicated in Fig.

l 'l of the drawings for controlling the cross-port or passage |21 to permit manual control of the exhausting of the cushioning steam. The startingl port or passage I8 is also connected by means of a cross-port or passage |29.with the main port or passage |22 and this cross-port or'passage |29 is controlled by a manually operated valve |30`to permit control of the cushioning steam.

The pilot or auxiliary slide valve will, immediately after the various ports have assumed the position shown in Fig. of the drawings, be' operated through the link connection ||4 `to cut off the delivery of steam to the left-hand end of the bore of the steam chest ||0 and to open the right-handend of the steam chest through the passages |00 and. |32 to deliver operating steam through the starting port |33 to start the piston valve |02 on its 'movement towards the left. AWhen the piston valve |02 is moved .to the left-hand limit of its movement the port |22 will be connected to exhaustgthrough the4 annular groove |24 while the port |23 will be connected at this time be connected with the steam supply port ||5 through the annular groove |30 and port |31 for delivering the starting steam to the right.-

hand end of the cylinder I. v

The operating steam for operating the piston 4valve |02 passes from the main'steam supply ||5 through theports H9 along the interior of the piston valve and out through the ports|2| and groove |35 into the pocket-or groove |40 formed in the steam chest. From here the steam passes through the passage |4|A (shownindotted lines in Fig. 5) into the chamber |42 in which` the auxiliary or pilot valve |00 reciprocates. The pilot valve |00 controls the distribution of steam to-the ends loi thepiston valve 102 through the matically in Figure 5A.

In this modied construction, like in the pre- I ferred construction shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings the steam passes through the A central bore |20 of the valve piston for delivering to the starting and main supply ports of the steam cylinder thereby providing a simple structure and eliminating muchexpensive core work in the manufacture of the valve gear. The exhaust of steam from the auxiliary cylinder is controlled by the pilot valve and is led through port 3e into the main exhaust |25.v It is to be understoodthat the valves- |28 and |30 and their cooperating ports are arranged substantially in the same manner as the valves 38Uand 4| so as not to block oli the starting passages ||3 and |26.

While in the drawings ,the steam valve gear is shown with the axis of the piston valve disposed at right angles to the axis of the steam pendicular to, or in any other suitable position and in any suitable location relative to the steaml cylinder and its axis, likewise the steam cover on which the auxiliary valve rides may be placedy in' any location on the auxiliary cylinder, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims. v

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam valve gear, a steam cylinder, a' piston therein,a valve chest, a steam piston valve in saidvalve chest, said steam cylinder provided, with main steam, supply passages and starting steam supply passages, said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at predetermined times, during the cycle of operation of the valve gear, said cylinder providedwith restricted cross ports opening said starting steam passages to said main steam passages and means controlling said cross-passages and regulating the cushioning action of said steam piston.

2. In a'steam valve gear, a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a steam piston valve in said valve chest, said steam cylinder provided with main steam supply passages and starting steam supply passages,.said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at predetermined times during the cycle of operation of the valve gear. said cylinder provided with, restricted cross ports opening said starting steam passages trolling said cross ports.

I 3. 1n a steam valve gear, a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a steam piston valve in said valve chest, a slidable pilot valve in said valve chest, a removable cover plate confining, said pilot valve in said chest and provided with steam passages for delivering steam to said piston valve, said pilot valve having. a ilat surface engaging andv slidingv over the inner surface of` said cover plate f or controlling passage of steam through said steam passages, said steam. cylinder provided with 'main steam supply passages and starting steam supply passages, said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at fl'predetermined times during the cycle of operation of the valve gear, said cylinder provided with cross ports opening said starting steam passages 5 to said main steam passages and means controlling said cross-passages for regulating the cushioning action of said steam piston.

4. In astearn valve gear, a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a steam piston valve in said valve chest, a slidable pilot valve in said valve chest, a removable cover plate conning said pilot valve in said chest and` provided with steam passages for delivering steam to said piston valve, said pilotvalve having a at surface engaging and sliding over the inner surface of said cover plate for controlling passage of steam through said steam passages, said steam cylinder provided with main steam supply passages and starting steam supply passages, said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at predetermined times during the cycle of operation of the valve gear, said cylinder provided with cross ports opening said starting steam passages to said main steam passages, and valves controlling said cross ports.

5. In a steam valve gear, a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a steam piston valve in said valve chest, said steam cylinder provided with main steam supply passages and starting steam supply passages, said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at predetermined times during the cycle of operation of the valve gear, said cylinder provided with restricted cross ports opening said starting steam passages to said main steam passages, a slidable pilot valve in said valve chest, a removable cover plate coniining said pilot va'lve in said chest and provided with passages for delivering steam to said piston valve, said pilot valve having a at surface facing outwardly from said piston valve and engaging and sliding over the inner surface of said cover plate to control the passage of steam through said cover plate passageways.

6. In a steam valve gear, the combinatlon, of a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valvev chest, a hollow piston valve in the valve chest, said valve chest provided with a steam supply port, said steam cylinder provided with a main steam supply passage and a starting steam supply passage opening into one end of the cylinder and with a second main steam supply passage and a second starting steam supply passage opening into the other end of the cylinder, said piston valve provided with annular grooves and said valve chest provided with ports for connecting said iirstnamed main steam passage and said first-named ply passage and a starting steam supply passage.

opening into one end of the cylinder and with a second main steam supply passage and a. second starting steam supply passage opening into the other end of the cylinder, said piston valve provided with annular grooves and said valve chest provided with ports for connecting said rstnamed main steam passage and said rst-named starting steam passage to said steam supply port,"

slid piston valve being-provided with ports opening into its hollow interior, certain of which communicate with said second main steam passage and said second starting steam passage whereby steam will pass through the piston valve for delivery to one end of said steam cylinder, said starting steam passage being cross-over passages whereby starting steam will be delivered from the ends of the steam chest to opposite ends of the steam cylinder.

8. In a steam valve gear, the combination, of a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a hollow piston valve in the valve chest, said valve chest provided with a steam supply port, said steam cylinder provided with a main steam supply passage anda starting steam supply passage opening into one end of the cylinder and with a second main steam supply passage and a second starting steam supply passage opening into the other end of the cylinder, said piston valve provided with annular grooves and said valve chest provided with-ports and connecting said rstnamed main steam passageand said iirst-named starting steam passage to said steam supply port, said .piston valve being provided with ports opening into its hollow interior, certain of which communicate with said second main steam passage and said second starting steam passage whereby steam will pass through the piston valve for delivery to one end of -said steam cylinder, said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at predetermined times during l the cycle of operation of the valve gear, said cylinder provided with restricted cross ports opening said starting steam passages to said main steam passages.

9. In a steam valve gear, the combination, of a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a hollow piston valve 1n the valve chest, said valve chest provided with a steam supply port, said steam cylinder provided with a main steam supply passage and a starting steam supply passage opening into one end of the cylinder and with a. second main steam supply passage and a second starting steam supply passage opening into the other end of the cylinder, said piston valve provided with annular grooves and said valve chest provided with ports and connecting said first-named main steam passage and said rst named starting steam passage to said steam supply port, said piston valve being provided, with ports opening into its hollow interior, certain of which communicate with said second main steam passageand saidsecond starting steam passage whereby steam @will pass through the piston valve for delivery to one end of said steam cylinder, said main steam supply passages acting as exhaust passages at predetermined times during the 'cycle of operation of the valve gear, said cylinder provided with restricted cross ports opening said starting steam passages to said main steam passages, and valves controlling said cross-ports;

10. In a steam valve gear, the combination, of a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a valve chest, a hollow I,piston valve inf the valve chest. said valve chest provided with a steam supply port, said steam cylinder provided with amain steam supply passage and a starting steam supply passage opening into one end of the cylinder and with a second main steam supply passage and a second starting steam supply passage opening into the other end of the cylinder, said `piston valve provided with annular grooves and said valve'chest provided with ports for connecting said first-named main steam passage and said rst-named starting steam passage to said steam supply port, said piston valve being provided with ports opening into its-hollow interior, certain of which` communicate with said second main"steam passage and said second starting steam passage-whereby steam will pass through the piston valve for delivery to one end of said steam cylinder, said starting steam passages being crossover passages whereby starting steam will be delivered from the ends of the steam chest to oppositel ends of the steam cyl- 

